Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-28
CHAPTER TX.
TWALA THE KING.


CHAPTER TX.
TWALA THE KING.
1t will not be necessary for me to detail al
length the incidents of our journey to Loo
1t took two days travelling along Solomon's
Great Road, which pursued its even course
right into the heart of Kukuanaland. Suffice
1t to say that as we went the country seemed
to grow richer and richer, and the kraalS,
with their wide surrounding belts of cultiva-
ton, more and more numerous. They were
all built upon the same principles as the first
ones we had reached, and were guarded by
ample garrisons of troops. Indeed, in Ku-
kuanaland, as among the Germans, the
Zulus, and the Nasal, every able-bodied man
was soldier, so that the whole force of the
nation is available for its wars, offensive or
defensive. AS we travelled along we were
overtaken by thousands of warriors hurrying
up to Loo to be present at the great annual
review and festival and a grander series OF
troops Ineyer saw. st sunset on the second
day we stopped to Fest awhile upon the sum-
NIT of some heights over which the road ran,
and there on beautiful and fertile plain be-
fore us was Loo itself. For native town it
was an enormous place, quite five miles
round l should say, with outlying kraals jut-
ting out from it, which serve ON grand occa-
Sions as environments for the regiments, and
curious horSeShoe-Shaped hill, with which
we were destined to become better acquaint-
ed, about two miles to the north. 1t was
beautifully situated, and through the center
of the kraal, dividing it into two portions,
ran a river, which appeared to be bridged at
several places, the same perhaps that we had
seen from the slopes of Sheba's Breasts.
Sixty or seventy miles away three great
snow-capped mountains, placed like the
points of a triangle, started up out of the
level plain. The conformation of these
mountains was unlike that of Sheba's
Breasts, being sheer and precipitous, in
stead of smooth and rounded.
Infadoos saw us looking at them, and vol
unteered a remark:
''The road ends there" he said, pointing
TO the mountains known among the Kukua-
mas as the ''Three Witches"
''Why does it endP' l asked.
"Who knowSw he answered with shrug;
''the mountains are full Of caves, and there is
q great pit between them. 1t is there that
the wise men of old time used to go to get
whatever it was they came to this country
for, and it is there now that our kings are
buried in the Place of Death."i
what was it they came for?' l asked,
eagerly.
"Nay, 1 know not My lords who como
from the stars should know" he answered
with quick look. Evidently he knew
more than he chose to say.
"Yes," / went on, ''you are right; IL the
stars we know many things. / have heard,
for instance that the wise men of old came
to these mountains to get brig IT stones,
pretty playthings, and yellow from
MY lord is wise," he answered coldly;
II am but child and cannot talk with my
lord on such things. My lord must speak
with Gagool the old, at tho kings place.
who is wise even as my lord" and he turned
away.
AS soon as he was gone, l turned to the
others and pointed out the mountains
''There are Solomon's diamond mines,"
said.
Umbopa Was standing with them, appar-
emily plunged in one of the fits of abstrac
tion which were common to him, and caught
my words
Eyes, MacumaZahn," he put in, in Zulu,
1.-THE diamonds are surely there, and you
shall have them, since you white men are SC
fond of toys and money"
allow do. you know that Umbopa?" ]
asked sharply, for | did not like his myster
ious ways.
He laughed: Il dream it in the night
white men, and then he too turned upon
his heel and went.
Now what said Sir Henry, lis on
black friend at? He knows more than h,
chooses to say, that is clear. BY the way
Quatermain, has he heard anything of-o
my brother??'
Nothing; he has asked every one ne ha
got friendly with, but they all declare n,
white man has ever been seen in the country
before"
''Do you suppose he ever got here at all?'
suggested Good; 1--WE have only reached the
place by a miracle; is it likely he could have
coached it at all without the mapm
Il don't hnow," said Sir Henry gloomily
"5ut somehow L think that / shall find him.
Slowly the sun sank, and then suddenly
uarkneSS rushed down on the land like
tangible thing. There was no breathing
space between the day and night, no sof
transformatiOn-Scene, for in these latitude
twilight does not exist The change from
day to night is SO quick and as absolute a
the change from life to death. The sun san
and the world was wreathed in shadows
But not for long, for see in the east there
aglow, then bent edge of silver light an
at last the full bow of the crescent moo
peeps above the plain and shoots its CLEAN
ing arrows far and wide, filling the cart
with faint refulgence, as the glow of
good mans deeds shine for while upon h
little world after his sun has set, lightin
the traveller to a fuller dawn.
We stood and watched the lovely sight
whilst the stars grew pale before thi
chastened majesty, and felt our hearts LITE
up in the presence of beauty we could M
realize, much less describe. Mine had bee
rough life, my reader, but there are fe'
things am thankful to have lived for, an